Katy Perry leapt to the defence of Ellen DeGeneres and fans were quick to point out the searingly obvious
Katy Perry (L) enthusiastically threw her support to Ellen DeGeneres amid accusations of bullying. (Getty)
Katy Perry fielded criticism from fans after throwing her support to Ellen DeGeneres, the daytime talk show abraded by accusations of racism and bullying.
In a two-part tweet on Tuesday (4 August), the Smile singer came to the defence of her “friend” DeGeneres, who is currently experiencing a downward spiral as a dizzying array of former staff members accuse her and senior-level employees of fermenting a toxic workplace environment.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show has long been a beloved syndicated program, but spikes have been thrown by not only former staffers, but celebrities who have appeared on the show itself and an internal investigation launched by WarnerMedia.
DeGeneres has, indeed, appeared pricked by these accusations, with rumours heaving that she is considering quitting her eponymous show of 17 years.
Katy Perry: ‘I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen.’
Perry, 35, wrote: “I know I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen and on The Ellen Show.
1/2 I know I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow. I think we all have witnessed the light & continual fight for equality that she has brought
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 4, 2020
2/2 to the world through her platform for decades. Sending you love & a hug, friend @TheEllenShow ♥️— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 4, 2020
“I think we all have witnessed the light and continual fight for equality that she has brought to the world through her platform for decades.
“Sending you love ad a hug, friend Ellen.”
Her tweets quickly became a lightning rod for criticism. Many Twitter users sought to remind Perry that she, a rich, white celebrity, would no doubt have a different experience of the 62-year-old broadcaster than, say, the Black staffers who have levelled complaints against her.
This has big “my experience was fine so idk what you’re talking about” energy, yikes https://t.co/xFqoesNGow— benjamin dean (@NotAgainBen) August 4, 2020
A rich white woman being treated well by another rich white woman. https://t.co/HzVQK2S7Nb pic.twitter.com/eLHmk8U4Ai— Tanya Compas (@TanyaCompas) August 4, 2020
The rich privileged media figures who need @TheEllenShow to promote their products are AII IN on supporting corrosive work environments in the name of supporting a friend. #StandWithEllen https://t.co/4L3LaCJ1pR
— atticus finch jr. (@AtticusSayNope) August 4, 2020
If I had to take a wild guess, I’d say there’s a huge difference between you, a celebrity guest on her show, and the underpaid employees whose complaints have everything to do with the fact that…they relied on Ellen to pay their bills. But maybe I’m wrong! https://t.co/AyLIdfvbJ9— Michael. (@yosoymichael) August 4, 2020
Indeed, Perry’s words spoke of how long-term fans of DeGeneres’ are grappling with watching accusation after accusation torpedo a person who was once a lodestar in LGBT+ representation.
DeGeneres came out publicly in 1997 on her sitcom, and the brief celebration that followed did little to pad the stinging criticism she experienced, noting that she fell into depression during her public fallout.
But while DeGeneres has fronted headlines for years due to her sunny demeanour, in recent weeks, the tide has changed. Allegations of racism, bullying and a playbook of DeGeneres “turning a blind eye” to rampant sexual misconduct by senior-level staffers have come to erode her reputation.
British comedian James Corden is even tipped to replace her.
